This week, we dive into the must-hear new music releases, from Kunwarr’s new club-ready EP and singer-songwriter Rahul Advani’s rock anthem for a new animated series, to Irene’s soulful, bilingual debut album, Mumbai death metallers Atmosfear’s rattling return to form, and many more.
Rahul Advani – “Where I Belong”
Singer-songwriter Rahul Advani levels up with a theme song for the Indian animated series Domain8 called, “Where I Belong.” Produced by Mondeblue with guitarist Sharukh Makani (from metal bands Last Ride Home and Anthracite and is also a live guitarist for rap star KR$NA), there’s an intentional Linkin Park inspiration here in the rock anthem that lands just right amid action-packed animation. Advani says, “Marrying the inner rage and angst of Linkin Park’s sound with the storytelling of Disney protagonist theme songs, ‘Where I Belong’ conjures the dystopian landscape of Domain8 and the battle for reclaiming hope in times of darkness.”
Tron 1982 – “Someone Else’s Dream”
Bengaluru-based synthwave band Tron 1982 started out in 2018, and have been releasing music since 2021. They’ve even managed to take their tunes live by opening for the likes of American synth band The Midnight on the latter’s India tour. Their latest song, “Someone Else’s Drea,m” leans into a classic synthwave sound. Comprising vocalists Rachna Ramdin and Venky Nayak along with producer-guitarist Premik Jolly, there’s an apt retrofuturistic, wistful sound that can instantly set the mood. “The song dives deep into the feeling of chasing paths that were never truly ours, wrapped in our signature synth-driven sound,” the band says.
The Down Troddence – “Binary Sun”
Kerala folk-metallers The Down Troddence have released the third song off their upcoming second album, As You All Know This Is How It Is. “Binary Sun” is described as a “reckoning” from the album and “a chant from the eye of the storm, where light meets shadow.” It’s a bold stroke for the band to offer up a more djent-leaning all-English song after opening the project with “Maharani,” featuring Carnatic vocalist T.M. Krishna, and following it up with the all-out thrash-informed Malayalam song “Ejjathi,” a scathing takedown of still-prevalent caste discrimination. “Binary Sun” takes a more philosophical turn with its lyrics, which are a call for unity amid chaos—a message amplified by a slick animated lyric video made by the artist A.J. Blend.
Dhruv Visvanath, Peej – “Pieces”
New Delhi singer-songwriter Dhruv Visvanath’s first song of the year is a collaboration with Filipino artist Peej aka Paulo Alampay. Visvanath says, “We met at a music conference in Singapore last year, and what started as a friendship turned into this beautiful piece of music. We wrote and recorded it from our bedrooms—Peej in Manila, me in Delhi—without ever being in the same room. Still, somehow, this song brought us closer.” The result is a fist-tight yet breezy pop bop that concerns itself with being alone, and the clincher is a sweet saxophone solo from Peej. The artists say, “‘Pieces’ is about loneliness, about the spaces between us, and what it means to reach across them and truly connect.”
Irene – June Coromandel
Singer-composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Irene takes a lush dive into Carnatic, indie, and singer-songwriter traditions on her debut album June Coromandel. Featuring Tamil and English songs, Irene is joined by producer Vavae for a vocally rich set of seven songs. “Nooru Kodi” is heartfelt and intimate, as is the introspective and sincere track “Pakal Kanave.” And then there’s the trippy “Would I Ever?” where Irene’s vocals stretch from soul to Carnatic. June Coromandel also brings in trip-hop energy on “You Say It Back,” a reflection on past love, and whispered jazz and soul influences on the minimalistic-turns-maximalist closing track “Fly Away.”
Viepsa Arora – “Turbulence”
New Delhi pop artist Viepsa Arora continues pushing her genre-hopping ways on “Turbulence,” blending hip-hop, Indian percussive, pop and R&B. There’s probably a lot more in the mix, it’s just hard to pin down, because Arora is jumping from rap to Hindustani classical before you know it. Invoking whirlwinds and chaos, there’s still a very confident artist standing in the middle of it all, giving us a new earworm.
Kunwarr – BBB EP
Punjabi-Canadian artist Kunwarr teams up with producer JayB Singh for a four-track EP called BBB that’s aimed at dancefloors but doesn’t hold back on the emotions. Kunwarr sings about heartbreak in quick raps on “Gall” and “Kohinoor.” There’s a more melodic pop turn on “Lost,” and Kunwarr—best known for his 2021 song “All Lies”—goes full throttle on the closing track “Demon Time.” He says, “BBB (Bad Boy Blues) is more than just an EP—it’s six months of my truth, my chaos, and my heart. We’re doing this for the art, we’re doing this to express.”
Fallen Letters – “Everdream”
Bengaluru-based prog rock/metal band Fallen Letters are steadily building up to their debut full-length album with their second single, “Everdream.” Starting with whispered vocals and a slow-trudging beat, the band builds the song “around the concept of a dream,” according to vocalist Vishal Naidu. Trying to emulate the feeling of “getting out of a dream,” Fallen Letters channel the likes of A Perfect Circle and Katatonia on a track that simmers up to a grand ending in true prog storytelling fashion.
Atmosfear – “Colossal Abhorrence”
Nearly a decade after their 2017 self-titled album came out, Mumbai death metallers Atmosfear are back in the spotlight for their new single “Colossal Abhorrence.” With drummer Ananya Blastphegor now behind the kit, vocalist-guitarist Bruce McKoy and bassist Shawn Phulpagar come together and offer a masterclass in swift, cutthroat metal that “delves into the human condition in an almost apocalyptic world we now live in.” McKoy’s growls on the current state of world politics echo powerfully on the closing lines, “Just another statistic for your trophy cabinet.”
Saachi – “Now’s The Time”
After upending societal expectations on “E.L.T.” earlier this year and grappling with existential angst on “Cruise Control,” Mumbai alt-pop and R&B/soul artist Saachi turns her focus to a more carpe diem theme on her third single this year, “Now’s The Time.” Described by the artist as “a special song to me with an especially important message” with “banger production” made with producer Ankit Dayal, the song encourages standing one’s ground, and saying what you want instead of staying silent. It’s the kind of friendly advice we could use from time to time.
Derek & The Cats – “Cubbon Park”
In May, Bengaluru act Derek & The Cats got to do what no band had done in about 10 years—play on the bandstand at the beloved Cubbon Park. Before then, it just so happened that they had prepped a love letter to the city’s green haven. So now, it gets a music video featuring footage from the show, a camera attached to a dog’s harness, games in the park and picnic vibes, all set to the sounds of feel-good, carefree jazz. The band says in a statement, “Being a Bangalore band, we had to write a song about where we’re from, something iconic about the city. This song is an ode to Bangalore, and it was really special making this song come to life.”
Emergency Trigger – “Territory”
Mumbai/Ambernath experimental metallers Emergency Trigger take the primal route on their seven-and-a-half-minute new song “Territory,” which is not so much thrash metal (like their previous records) but more groovy, with one mellow bridge. The band says it’s a song “based on an imaginary yet possible story.” The raw growls (and maniacal laughter, at one point) trace the journey of a man “who is fed up of how the world is generally running with biased thoughts, forceful day-to-day struggles, liars with selfish benefits, corruption for selfish progress.” In his frustration, the song’s protagonist “decides to find his own physical land or territory, where he can start a new life in a more sensitive way that respects the all living beings.”
Source:https://rollingstoneindia.com/new-music-kunwarr-saachi-dhruv-visvanath-down-troddence/